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Inter-departmental group reviews LYM landslips situation
An inter-departmental group headed by the Deputy Director of Home Affairs, Ms Sandra Lee, met today (Monday) to review the situation at Lei Yue Mun Squatter Area where landslips following the passage of Severe Tropical Storm Helen have caused concern about the safety of residents living there.
Ms Lee stressed that on advice of the Geotechnical Engineering Office (GEO), there was no need at this stage to evict compulsorily residents from their structures. She pointed out that families from about 30 structures which were in immediate danger had already moved out voluntarily.
However, for safety reasons, residents in the area where their structures are assessed to be vulnerable to landslips by the GEO are strongly advised to leave their huts temporarily in times of heavy rain and to take up rehousing offer made by the Housing Department.
"Although we very much like them to take up the offer for safety reasons, the final decision still rests with the residents so long as their structures are not in immediate risk," said Ms Lee.
As the slopes behind the Lei Yue Mun Squatter Area are high and almost vertical, GEO is of the opinion that it is impossible to carry out any landslip preventive work without first removing a large number of structures below.
Moreover, the scale of the work is so large that it would be neither practical nor meaningful for the Government to consider reconstructing these structures upon completion of the remedial work.
Meanwhile, 270 families had already registered with the Housing Department. Registration is continuing on site and rehousing eligibility criteria will be fully assessed with a view to making offers to those residents who wish to move out, Priority in rehousing will be given to the disabled and the elderly.
End/Monday, August 21, 1995